Improvement in combined cloak, tent, bed



NUNITnD STATES PATENT OFFICE.

THEODORE o. BREOHT, OF THE UNITED -STATES NAVY, AND sIMON B. sIGEsMOND. on WASHINGTON, AssIGNORs To THnMsELvEs, AND JOHN KULINSKI, XAVIER KAROHESKI.

AND ALEXANDER VALOWSKI, OF

WASHINGTON, DISTRICT." OF COLUMBIA.. f

IMPROVEMENT |N COMBINED CLOAK, TENT,BED, am.

Specifica-tion forming part of Letters Patent No. 36,685, dated October 14, 1&2.

To aZZ whom it may concern:

Be it known thatwe, THEODORE G. BREOHT, ot' the United States Navy, and SIMON B. SIGEsMoND, of the city of Washington, District of Columbia, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Soldiers Equipments, commonly called Tent dAbri,: of which the following is a full, cl`ear,and exact description.

For the sake of illustration reference is taken y to the accompanying drawings, representing our improved tent.

Figure l represents the tent ready for use, the top cover being uncovered and thrown back. Fig. 2 is a side or edge view with covers `out so as to show the supports for the upper part of the tent as well as the pillow for the head. Fig. 3 is a top View showing the mattress with covers for the head and body thrown aside. Fig. 4 represents it folded and rolled, strapped to the knapsack. Fig. 5 represents the tent as a cloak adjusted and adapt ed for the soldiers. i

Our improved tent may be used not only as a tent to protect the men from the inclemency of the weather, but also as a liiepreserver in crossing rivers and streams. A regiment provided with our tents may pass with impunity the most rapid streams and carry their ammunition and arms dry; or by fastening a numof them together a pontonbridge may be formed by laying planks overthese tents when inated and fastened together'. They may be used as an ambulance ior sick and wounded soldiers, being a soft bed, and giving an easy motion when the soldiers are transported in ambulance-wagons over rough roads. They may be, furthermore, used as a hammock'by suspending them from the four corners, taking up not more than one-fourth ofthe room taken up by the sail-cloth hammocks now used on board of ships-a great advantage,as generally there is not too much room on vessels. They may be used as a cloak in wet Weather, when, by drawing the hood shown in the drawings over the head, the soldiers are protected entirely from the weather; and, principally as a mattress and tent it is a great benefit to the soldier, protecting him from above as well as from below and from rain and the dampness of the ground, and giving him a soft bed to lie upon, which is a great comfort after a long and Weary march.

VOur tent is made of a double water and air tight bottom, A, of a length and width sufficient for a` man to lie down upon. To this bottom Ais secured a flap or cover, B, for the fastened the hood G, which covers the opening when the ten/t is used to liel down upon.

The upper end ofthe mattress is supplied with a pillow, H, Figs. 2 and 3, and a cover, G, for the head, to be supported by short supports E, of wood or wire. to .suspend or raise it above the face. In the front part of said cover C is attached a piece of wire or mosquito cloth, D, to allow a free circulation of air, which may be closed by an extra tia-p or cover in wet weather.

The bottom Ais inat ed through the monthscrews I I, Fig. l, in a couple of minutes, and in case a regiment wishes to move it is only necessary to open the screws or valves I I and let the air escape, when it may be rolled up and fastened to the k-napsack, as shown in Fig. 4 at K.

We do notlimit ourselves tothe use of any particular` material. Any fabric made air .and water proof may be used, whether it be woolen, cotton, or other textile material.

Having thus described our invention, what we claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

l. A portable tent made of a double water and air tight fabric, in the manner and for the purposes substantially as specified.

2. The hereindescribed arrangement for changing a cloak into a tent dabri, hammock, ambulance, and life-preserver.

3. A combined cloak, tent, hammock, ambulance, and life-preservar, constructed substantially as herein described.

In witness whereof we hereunto set our hands this 3d day of May, 1862.

T. C. BREOHT. S. B. SIGESMOND.

itnesses:

W. LEsKI, JOHN KULINsKI. 

